Electrolytic water correction device



July 15, 1947. E. M. BUTLER ELECTROLYTIC WATER CORRECTION DEVICE Filed Aug. 27, 1945 |NVENTOF5 EOZ qarA/I. BwZZen BY ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1947 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROLYTIC WATER CORRECTION DEVICE '7 Claims. 1

My invention has for its object to provide a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device especially adapted for use in the water cooling system of internal combustion engines of all types, including automobile, marine, tractor, industrial and aeronautical water-cooled engines.

The invention also has for an object, the provision of a device of the character stated, that canbe inserted into a rubber hose connection of the cooling system preferably the hose connecting the motor with the top of the radiator where the circulating Water is the hottest.

A further object is to provide a simple inexpensive device, easily renewable when necessary, one which is self-contained and one in which the device proper and the means to support it in the hose constitute a single unit.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention also resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts all of which shall be first fully described hereinafter and th'en be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

- Fig. 1 is a, view showing my invention in elevation within a hose shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I represents a section of hose of a cooling system of an internal combustion engine.

The device which embodies my invention comprises a negative element 2 of zinc or other suitable metal about which is tightly fitted a jacket 3 of copper or silver plated copper as the positive element.

A volute spring 4 has its smaller end welded, brazed or otherwise securely fastened as at w to an end of the jacket 3, there 'being two such springs provided, one for each end of the jacket. The larger end of each spring has a slip joint 5 formed by looping the wire end about a coil so that the greater diameter of the spring may be collapsed by pressure to enable its insertion into a hose I of lesser diameter and thereby enable the spring to engage the wall of the hose with retaining pressure.

The jacket 3 is shorter than the core 2 to leave a substantial portion of the core ends projecting beyond the ends of the jacket or sleeve 3. The springs 4 of course do not touch the core 2 but are spaced from it as shown in the drawing.

As before intimated, in practice the core 2 is made of zinc or a zinc alloy of suitable kind while the jacket and springs are made of copper or, preferably, copper plated with silver to increase the difference of potential between the exposed surface of the jacket 3 and that of the core 2.

The hose I acts as an insulator for the device, against contact with the metal parts of the motor and radiator of the cooling system. The volute springs 4 serve not only to support and center the elements 2 and 3 in the hose but they also serve to cause a swirling action to take place in the circulating water or electrolyte which adds to the efficiency of the device in the performing of its intended functions.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a modified form of the invention, in which the positive element 3* has its bore provided with longitudinal water circulating grooves 9 and at the grooved areas is provided with longitudinal ribs 6.

The negative element 2 is driven into the positive element 3 tightly so as to fit the bore of the positive element with a driving fit.

Further, the positive element or sleeve 3 has end lugs I set intermediately of the ribs 6 and the lugs l and ribs 6 have aligning annular grooves 8 to receive the smallest coils of the springs 4, the ends of which may be bent, as at 4 to prevent accidental uncoiling from the grooves. In this way the springs are firmly secured to the jacket or sleeve 3 In inserting the device in the hose I should it be found that the larger ends of the springs 4 cannot be sufiiciently compressed, the springs can be cut off to the diameter of coil that will go in and yet hold tight enough to retain the device in place.

The term positive as used herein designates metals positioned below hydrogen in the electromotive force series of metals. The term negative as used herein designates metals positioned above hydrogen in the electromotive force series ofmetals.

From the foregoin description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawing it is thought my invention, its construction, uses and advantages will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. An electrolytic self-energizing water correction device adapted to detachably mount itself upon mere insertion in a conduit which comprises a core of zinc, a sleeve for said core in tight fitting engagement therewith and composed of a positive metal of the electromotive force series, said sleeve enclosing said core for a substantial part of the length of said core to leave a core end exposed, and resilient supporting means also of positive metal of the electromotive force series, said supporting means beaction between said negative and positive metals.

2. The combination with a conduit of a Water cooling system for internal combustion engines, of an electrolytic self-energizing water correction device located within said conduit, said device comprising a core of a negative metal of the electromotive force series, a jacket enclosing and in good contact with said core but leaving the end portions of the core exposed, said jacket being composed of a positive metal or the electromotive force series, and spring members composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series anchored to said jacket and having portions in closely spaced relation to said exposed core ends to increase the galvanic action between said negative and positive metals, and said spring elements also having contractible portions expandingly engaging the wall of said conduit with retaining force.

3. An electrolytic self-energizing Water correction device adapted for self-supporting positionin a conduit, said device comprising a metallic core composed of negative metal of the electromotive force series and constituting the negative element of the device, a metallic jacket surroundin and in engaging contact with an intermediate length of said core to leave the ends thereof exposed, and metallic spring members having inner portions anchored to said jacket and in closely spaced relation to the exposed ends of the core and having laterally extending portions contractible for insertion into a conduit and thereafter expansible into resilient supporting engagement with said conduit, the metal of said jacket and of said spring members being composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series and constituting the positive element of said device to provide an effective potential differential with respect to the metal of said core;

4. An electrolytic self-energizing water 'correction device adapted for self-supporting position in a conduit, said device comprising a metallic core composed of negative metal of the electromotive force series and constituting the negative element for the device, a metallic jacket sleeve surrounding and in engaging contact with an intermediate length of said core to leave the ends thereof exposed, said jacket being internally grooved to provide water passages extending longitudinally of said core, and metallic spring members having inner portions anchored to said jacket and in closely spaced relation to the exposed ends of said core and having laterally extending portions contractible for insertion into a conduit and thereafter expansible into resilient supporting engagement with said conduit, said jacket sleeve and said spring members being composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series and together constituting the positiveelement of said device and said positive metal of said sleeve and spring members having an effective potential difierential with respect to the metal of said core.

5'. An electrolytic self-energizing Water correction device adapted for self-supporting positioning in a conduit, said device comprising a metallic core composed of negative metal of the elec- 4 tromotive force series and constituting the negative element for said device, a metallic jacket surrounding and in firm physical contact with an intermediate length of said core to leave the ends thereof exposed, and spring members having laterally extending portions for engagement with a conduit wall and having inner portions anchored to said jacket and in closely spaced relation to the exposed ends of the core, said jacket and spring members being composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series and together constituting the positive element of the device.

6. An electrolytic self-energizing Water correction device adapted to center and detachably mount itself upon mere insertion in a conduit which comprises a metal sleeve, a metal core mounted in said sleeve in mechanical contact therewith, said core being exposed at the ends of the sleeve and composed of negative metal of the electromotive force series to constitute the negative element for said device, metal spring means anchored on said sleeve and extending longitudinally beyond and laterally outward from the ends of said sleeve to provide outer end portions for resilient engagement with the conduit receiving the device to fixedly but detachably mount the device in said conduit and to provide other portions adjacent the core, and said other portions together with said sleeve constituting the positive element of the device and being composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series.

7. An electrolytic self-energizing water correction device adapted to be detachably held within a tube of insulating material which comprises a metal tube having ends formed with resilient diverging extensions capable of yieldingly engaging the inside wall of a tube of insulating material to removably maintain said device therein, said metal tube and extensions constituting the positive element of said device and being composed of positive metal of the electromotive force series, and a second metal member constituting the negative element of said device composed of negative metal of the electromotive force series and mounted in the metal tube in mechanically contacting relation therewith but exposed at its end.

EDGAR M. BUTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 779,326 Stewart Jan. 3, 1905 2,261,320 Williams Nov. 4, 1941 525,303 Woods Aug. 28, 1894 577,134 Harrison Feb. 16, 1897 1,034,711 Ives Aug. 6, 1912 2,223,504 Abbott Dec. 3, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,882, Great Britain May 23, 1929 OTHER REFERENCES Publications, Hackhs Chemical Dictionary,

2nd edition, (1937), published by P. Blakistons Son 82 Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., page 315.

Hackhs Chemical Dictionary, 3d edition, (1944), pages 283, 565, 674, 675. 

